Dematic celebrates 60 years of Australian innovation

Dematic is celebrating 60 years of innovation, engineering excellence and customer partnership in Australia and New Zealand, marking a major milestone in the company’s journey from humble beginnings in a small workshop in Sydney’s Northern Beaches to becoming a global leader in supply chain automation.

Founded as Colby Engineering in 1966 by Gerry Hatton AM, the business began as a local manufacturing and engineering operation built on mechanical and structural steel expertise, with the introduction of the adjustable racking system ColbyRACK which remains a key part of Dematic’s local offering. Over six decades, Dematic has grown into a global automation and technology leader supporting industries including grocery, retail, e-commerce, health care, manufacturing, third-party logistics, and food and beverage. Now a provider of advanced automation technologies including voice-directed picking, goods-to-person (GTP) systems, robotics, and integrated software, Dematic has delivered major automation projects for businesses including Woolworths, BIG W and Sigma Healthcare.

“Dematic has always been built on a culture of innovation, partnership, and a commitment to customers,” Hatton said. “From the very beginning, there was a strong belief that we could design and build world-class solutions locally, while continuing to evolve with the changing needs of industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how far the business has come, and even more exciting to see the next generation continuing to push innovation forward.”

Dematic now employs more than 850 people across Australia and New Zealand and continues to invest in local manufacturing, engineering capability and apprenticeship programs.

The anniversary comes at a time of growing demand for intelligent automation, robotics and AI-driven optimisation as businesses respond to labour challenges, operational complexity and rising customer expectations. With solutions spanning software, storage and order fulfilment systems, robotics, automated guided vehicles, and fully integrated automation technologies, the company has focused on improving operational performance, efficiency and resilience throughout modern distribution centres.

“A significant number of products move through supply chains powered by Dematic technology every day,” said Simon Barrow, V.P. and Managing Director for Dematic ANZ. “Whether consumers are shopping online, purchasing groceries, accessing medical supplies or receiving essential goods, there is a high probability that Dematic technology has played a role somewhere along that journey.”

Dematic’s growth over the past six decades has mirrored the evolution of Australia’s supply chain sector, from traditional warehousing through to highly automated distribution environments.

“For 60 years, we have remained focused on helping customers solve complex operational and supply chain challenges. We are incredibly proud of our people and the role Dematic has played in supporting Australian industry, manufacturing, and engineering innovation.

“Ongoing investment in Australian engineering capability remains central to the business’s long-term strategy. Our engineers, technicians, software specialists, project teams and apprentices have always been pivotal to Dematic’s success. Supplementing our manufacturing in Sydney is a commitment to our Lifecycle Solutions and Service apprenticeships program, coupled with our graduate pathways to ensure we grow our local engineering expertise across multiple disciplines,” Barrow said.

Image: Supplied